Photography adaptor assembly for a slit lamp examination unit

ABSTRACT

An assembly for adapting any of several different models of commercially-available slit lamps (10) into an optic examination unit capable of being used for routine eye examinations and also capable of taking high quality photographs of what is being viewed through an ocular of the slit lamp. The assembly is comprised of an illumination means (30a, 30b, 30c) having both a steady light source (69) and a strobe source (80), a camera support arm (55) for supporting a camera (57) in proper position for taking photographs through an ocular (26a) of the slit lamp, an eyepiece adaptor housing (59) and a camera sleeve (56) adapted to be connected into the lens receiving opening of the camera. 
     To assemble the present invention into a slit lamp, the original light source of the slit lamp is removed and is replaced with the present illumination source. The original eyepiece housing is removed and is replaced with the present eyepiece adaptor housing. The camera support arm is mounted on the microscope support of the slit lamp and the camera sleeve which is positioned into a ring clamp carried by the camera support arm is attached to the lens receiving opening of a camera back. The camera support arm is manipulated to cause the camera sleeve to move over the eyepiece adaptor housing so that the camera is now in position to photograph through the ocular of the slit lamp.

This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 153,209 filed May27, 1980 and now abandoned.

DESCRIPTION

1. Technical Field

This invention relates to optical apparatus used for examination of thehuman eye, commonly known as a "slit lamp", and more particularlyrelates to apparatus for adapting commercially-available slit lamps intoa unit which is capable of photographing the eye during an examinationwhile completely maintaining the original utility of the slit lamp.

2. Background of Invention

An optical apparatus, commonly known in the art as a slit lamp, isroutinely used by ophthalmologists and/or optometrists to examine thehuman eye. A slit lamp provides an illumination beam having a slit imageof varying widths and includes a microscope for examining the area ofthe eye illuminated by the beam. The illumination beam is normallydirected toward the eye along a horizontal optical axis by reflecting avertical illumination beam with a 45° reflecting mirror.

In recent years, a desire, if not a need, has arisen to record on filmcertain aspects of a slit lamp eye examination to aid the examiner inlater treatment of the eye and/or to provide him with a permanent visualhistory of a patient's eye condition. To provide the high qualityphotographs desired for these purposes, special slit lamps havingbuilt-in photographic capabilities have been developed and are nowcommercially available. However, these "photo slit lamps" are especiallydesigned and must be purchased as a complete new unit. Since mostpresently practicing ophthalmologists and optometrists already own oneor more standard slit lamps, it can be seen that considerable expensewould be involved in converting over to these special photography slitlamps. Further, since the examiner is familiar with dioptric settings,etc., of his own slit lamp and is comfortable with its use, the purchaseof a new photography slit lamp requires him to start over inestablishing his examination procedures and in gaining confidencetherein.

Other devices have been proposed for adapting existing, standard slitlamps so that they may also be used to take photographs of the eye. Onesuch device comprises a sleeve which merely attached a camera to theocular of the slit lamp. Unfortunately, however, the illumination of thestandard slit lamp is not sufficient under normal conditions to permitthe taking of high-quality photographs. Further, the sleeve isrelatively difficult to attach to and detach from the slit lamp whichmay cause delays in a routine examination. Still further, properfocusing of the camera once it is in position involves a relativelycomplicated procedure requiring considerable time and effort on the partof the examiner. Still further, the ocular, itself, must support theentire weight of the camera.

Another known adaptor device merely involves mounting an arm on the slitlamp which carries a camera with a flash attachment thereon forphotographing the anterior portions of the eye. In addition to requiringthe normally present tonometer to be removed from the slit lamp eachtime a picture is to be taken, the picture itself is not taken throughthe ocular of the lamp and accordingly does not record what is beingseen by the examiner.

Therefore, it should be recognized that a need exists for a means bywhich an existing slit lamp can be adapted into a unit capable of takinghigh quality photographs through the ocular of the slit lamp while, atthe same time, allowing the slit lamp to maintain all of its originalfeatures necessary for performing a routine eye examination withoutrequiring the constant assembling and disassembling of parts during anexamination.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a means for adapting acommercially-available slit lamp into a unit capable of being used forroutine eye examinations and also capable of taking high qualityphotographs of what is being viewed through an ocular of the slit lamp.The present invention comprises an assembly of several components whichcan be quickly and easily installed onto a commercial slit lamp andindefinitely left in place on the slit lamp even when the slit lamp isused for routine examinations.

More specifically, the present invention comprises a new and improvedillumination source, a camera support arm, a camera sleeve, and aneyepiece adaptor housing, all of which are adapted to be assembled ontoa commercial slit lamp. The illumination source which easily fits ontothe illumination column of a slit lamp is adapted to replace theoriginal constant light source of the slit lamp after the original lightsource and condenser lens are removed from the column. The illuminationsource contains both a constant light source, e.g. halogen bulb, forroutine examination and a flash light source, e.g. xenon strobe, for usein photographing the eye.

The camera support arm has a clamp which is adapted to be connected tothe support on the slit lamp which supports the microscope. A pivot pinon an articulated frame of the camera support arm is rotatably mountedin the clamp so that the frame can freely rotate with respect to theclamp. A ring clamp is carried by a vertical adjustment means mounted onthe outer end of the articulated frame. The camera sleeve which isadapted to be connected into the lens receiving opening of acommercially-available camera is adapted to be received into the ringclamp and is thereby supported on camera support arm.

The eyepiece adaptor housing is adapted to replace the original eyepiecehousing of one of the oculars of the microscope to thereby provide aflush surface around the eyepiece onto which the camera sleeve ispositioned when the camera is moved into an operable position. Camerasleeve is tightened onto adaptor housing to thereby exclude externallight from the camera. When the camera is in position, the ocularthrough which a photograph is to be taken can still be focused in thesame manner as it could be originally. By taking the photograph throughthe ocular, the original full range of magnification is available forphotographing the eye.

The components may be assembled into a slit lamp before the slit lamp issold or preferably the components are assembled into a kit and sold topractitioner who can easily assemble the components into his own slitlamp. In addition to the savings involved, the practitioner can continueto use his own slit lamp with which he is familiar. The individualcomponents are designed so most of the components will fit withoutmodification into several different standard commercial slit lamps.Where a modification is required due to a slightly differentconfiguration of a particular commercial slit lamp, the modificationinvolves only a slight change in the dimensions or configuration of thatcomponent so that it fits that particular slit lamp.

Further, the components are designed so that once assembled, they mayremain in place on the slit lamp indefinitely and do not interfere withthe use of the slit lamp in performing a routine examination. However,if desired, the camera can easily be removed for other use or the cameraand camera support arm can easily be removed when not in use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The actual construction, operation, and the apparent advantages of thepresent invention will be better understood by referring to the drawingsin which like numerals identify like parts in the different figures andin which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a commercially-available slit lamp ontothe present invention has been incorporated;

FIG. 2 is an exploded, perspective view of the components of theorigianl light source of the slit lamp of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a light pipe for use in presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the eyepiece adaptor housing which formsa part of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view, partly in section, of the ocular of the slitlamp of FIG. 1 with eyepiece adaptor housing in place, the camera sleeveof the present invention, and a commercially available T-adaptor for acamera;

FIG. 6 is a sectional, elevational view of the upper section of oneembodiment of the illumination source of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a plan view taken along line 7--7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a sectional elevational view of lower section of oneembodiment of the illumination source of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a plan view taken along line 9--9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an exploded, perspective view of the camera support arm ofthe present invention.

FIG. 11 is a sectional elevational view of another embodiment of thelower section of the illumination source of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a plan view taken along line 12--12 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is an elevational view, partly in section, of still anotherembodiment of the illumination source of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a plan view taken along line 14--14 of FIG. 13; and

FIG. 15 is a side view of the illumination source of FIGS. 13 and 14.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Referring more particularly to the drawings, FIG. 1 discloses slit lamp10 which is illustrative of several commercially-available slit lampsinto which the present invention can be incorporated. Typical examplesof such slit lamps are (1) Topcon Slit Lamp, Model SL-3D, TopconInstrument Corp. of America, Paramus, N.J.; (2) Mentor Slit Lamp, MentorDivision of Codman and Shurtleff, Inc., Randolf, Mass.; (3) Marco V SlitLamp, MARCO, Jacksonville, Fla.; (4) Model 900, Haag-Streit, Bern,Switzerland. Representative slit lamp 10 is comprised of a head restframe 11 mounted on table 12. Chin support 13 extends between paralleluprights 14 of frame 11 and is vertically adjustable to permit properalignment of a patient's eye. Fixation light 15 depends from head restframe 11 and, as is well known, is adapted to be positioned for maximumbenefit during an examination.

Carriage 16 is mounted on table 12 for relative movement in relation toframe 11 by means of an element (not shown) which is mounted in carriage16 and which rides on the surface of table 12. Carriage 16 moveslaterally along rod 17 which in turn have pinions 18 (only one shown) onthe ends thereof. Pinions 18 mate with racks 19 (only one shown) formedwithin housings 20 which are mounted on table 12. A control lever or"joy stick" 21 extends from carriage 16 and is used to providehorizontal movement and fine focus of slit lamp 10.

Mounted on carriage 16 is a pivot assembly 21 which includes hub 22having arm 23 extending therefrom and cooperating with verticaladjustment knob 24 for raising and lowering the pivot assembly 21. Pivotassembly 21 includes microscope support arm 25 which carries a binocularmicroscope body 26 and an illumination arm 27 which carries anillumination column 28, arms 25 and 27 both being pivotably mounted on avertical pivot pin 29 which is supported by hub 22 so that microscopebody 26 and illumination column 28 are both pivotable about the sameaxis.

In a typical, standard slit lamp, of the type being described, originallamp unit 30 (see FIG. 2) is mounted atop illumination column 28. Lampunit 30 is comprised of a lower housing 31, a perforated centering plate32 which carries an incandescent bulb 33, and a contact cap 34 having anelectrical power connection 35 thereon. As will be understood by thoseskilled in this art, condensing lens 36 (FIG. 2) normally sets withincolumn 28 at its upper end 28a (FIG. 1) and is held in position by fourequally spaced studs 37 (only two shown in FIG. 2) which are threadedinto upper column end 28a and extend upward therefrom. Housing 31 ispositioned over studs 37 and plate 32 with bulb 33 is positioned ontothe top of housing 31 and over studs 37. Nuts 38 are then threaded ontothe top of studs 37 to secure the components in a fixed relationship oncolumn 28. Cap 34 is positioned onto housing 31 and is held in place byset screw 39. A contact (not shown) in cap 31 contacts the top of bulb33 to supply power therethrough through connector 35.

Bulb 33 directs a vertical beam of light through condenser lens 36toward mirror 40 which is disposed at the bottom of the illuminationcolumn 28 on a post 41 in substantially horizontal, axial alignment withmicroscope 26 and oriented at substantially 45° to direct the light beamtoward the eye of a patient.

Illumination column 28 is supported on the illumination arm 27 by a pairof spaced columns 44 and 45. As understood in the art, upper column end28a has a pair of cooperating members below bulb 33 and condensing lens36 which are controlled by a cam and control rod (not shown) to form aslit diaphragm for adjusting the width of the slit of light used duringan examination. The actual adjusting of the slit is accomplished byturning knob 46 which is located on illumnating arm 27. As explainedabove and as will be recognized by those skilled in the art, the detailsof slit lamp 10 as described up to this point are all well known in theart.

Commercially-available slit lamp 10 as shown in FIG. 1 has been adaptedin accordance with the present invention to include the capability ofphotographing the anterior segment and/or the interior segment of apatient's eye during an examination. The original light source 30 hasbeen removed and replaced with a first embodiment 30a of theillumination means of the present invention. To do this, original cap34, plate 32 and bulb 33, housing 31, condensing lens 36, studs 37, andnuts 38 (FIG. 2) are all removed from lamp 10. A light distributingmeans, e.g. light pipe 50 (FIG. 3) comprising a solid glass rod 51centrally mounted in plate 52 may be placed onto upper end 28a ofilluminating column 28 in the same position formally occupied bycondensing lens 36. It should be understood that other known lightdistributing means, e.g. a flat sheet of clear or frosted glass (notshown), may also be used to replace condensing lens 36 or condensinglens may be dispensed with altogether without departing from the presentinvention.

Illumination means 30a, the details of which will be discussed below, isthen mounted onto the upper end 28a of column 28. Two other embodiments30b, 30c of the illumination means of the present invention will also bedescribed in more detail below. Each of the embodiments 30a, 30b, 30c ofillumination means contains a constant light source for routineexaminations and a flash strobe light for photographing the eye of apatient.

Clamp 54 (FIG. 1) is affixed to microscope support arm 25 and camerasupport arm 55 is pivotably mounted thereto. Camera sleeve 56 isattached to the lens receiving opening in commercially-available cameraback 57 and is mounted into ring clamp 58 of camera support arm 55.Sleeve 53 is adapted to receive ocular 26a of microscope 26 when camerasupport arm 55 is amnipulated into an operable position. In accordancewith the present invention, ocular 26a has been modified by removing theoriginal ocular housing 90 and replacing it with an ocular adaptorhousing 59 (FIG. S1, 4 and 5). Adaptor housing 59 is adapted to smoothlyand snuggly fit within sleeve 53 when the camera is moved into anoperable position. Now that the whole of the present invention has beendisclosed, each of the individual components thereof will now bedescribed in detail under its appropriate heading.

Illumination means 30a, 30b, 30c

Referring now to FIGS. 6-9, a first embodiment 30a of illumination meansis comprised of a housing which, in turn, comprises a lower strobesection 60 and an upper lamp section 61. Both sections 60, 61 areconstructed from a heat resistive and insulative material, e.g. phenolicresin, and are formed with heat dissipating fins 62 along the outersurface thereof and with heat riser passages 63 along the inner surfacesthereof, said fins 62 and passages 63 on section 60 aligning with saidfins 62 and passages 63, respectively, on section 61 when sections 60and 61 are mated in an operable position.

Upper lamp section 61, as illustrated, has a central opening 64 in top65 thereon which is surrounded by plurality radially-spaced heat outlets66. Positioned along the inner surface of section 61 is reflector sleeve67 which is held in place by screws 68 or the like. Lamp 69, e.g. 10.8volt, 42 watt, halogen-cycle, multi-mirror reflector projector lamp,Model EPT, General Electric Co., is positioned within reflector sleeve67 and is held in place by means of four equally spaced ears 70 whichare punched out of sleeve 67 or otherwise secured thereto. Light shield71 having an opening 72 therethrough is suspended by screws 73 or thelike below central opening 64 to block passage of light but allow heatto escape therethrough. Contacts 74 on lamp 69 extend through opening 72and are adapted to be connected to power source through leads 75 (FIG.1). The lower end of upper lamp section 61 is recessed at 76 which isadapted to frictionally fit into internal groove 77 on the top of lowerstrobe section 60 to secure the two sections together.

Lower strobe section 62 has reflector sleeve 78 secured inside thereofby means of screws 79 or the like. Ring strobe 80, e.g. xenon ring-typestrobe flash capable of developing up to at least 200 watt-seconds orgreater, is effectively centered in lower section 60 and is securedtherein by means of insulator 81 and screw 82 threrethrough. Contacts 83on strobe 80 extend through insulator 81 and are adapted to be connectedto a power source 84 (FIG. 1). The lower end of lower strobe section 60is beveled and has a plurality of spaced passages 85 therethrough. Splitintake manifold ring 86 having a plurality of spaced inlets 87 throughits upper surface is positioned on the lower beveled end of lowersection 62 and is held in position by screw 88.

To assemble illumination means 30a, recess 76 on upper section 61 isfrictionally fitted into recess 77 on lower section 60. Whenillumination means 30a is in an operating position on column 28 of slitlamp 10 and lamp 69 is activated, air within illumination means 30a willbecome heated and will rise within heat riser passages 63 therebycarrying heat with the air out of the interior of illumination means 30athrough openings 66 in the top thereof. As the air within illuminationmeans 30a rises, additional air is drawn into means 30 through intakemanifold ring 86 via openings 87 in ring 86 and passages 85 in beveledend of lower strobe section 60. This flow of air dissipates asubstantial amount of the heat generated by lamp 69 and strobe 80 andthereby maintains the heat within means 30a at safe, operational level.

Another embodiment 30b of the illumination means is disclosed in FIGS.11 and 12, wherein means 30b is comprised of a housing which, in turn,comprises a lower strobe section 60b and the same upper lamp section 61as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 and fully described above. The primary supportstructure of lower strobe section 60b is constructed similarly as issection 60 described above in that it has heat dissipating fins 62 alongthe outer surface thereof, heat riser passages 62 along the innersurfaces thereof, and manifold ring 86 and associated passages 85, 87thereon.

Barrel strobe 80b (e.g. a 3/4 inch diameter glass cylinder,approximately 2 inches long, filled with xenon gas and capable ofdeveloping up to at least 200 watt-seconds or greater) is supportedwithin lower section 60b by tubular supports 81a and secured therein bymeans of insulator 81b. Contacts 83b for strobe 80b extend insulator 81band are adapted to be connected to a power source (not shown). Barrelstrobe 80b is constructed so that its upper and lower surfaces are flatand as optically pure as possible so that when section 60, 61 areassembled, the light from lamp 69 can pass undistorted downward throughstrobe 80b. Further, a sleeve of reflective material (not shown) may bepositioned around strobe 80b to increase the usable light from thestrobe.

Still another embodiment 30c of the illumination means 30c is comprisedof a housing which, in turn, is comprised of a main support 90 having aplurality of holes 91 therein aligned in the same pattern as theoriginal studs 37 (FIG. 1) of slit lamp 10. Ring-like strobe 80c issuspended from main support 90 by means of strobe support 92. Asillustrated, strobe 80c is comprised of glass tubing (e.g. 4 millimetersin diameter) formed in a ring having an internal diameter ofapproximately 12 millimeters. The ends of the ring terminate in largerdiameter tubing sections 93 (e.g. 6 millimeter) which have electrodes 94therein. Sections 93 are mounted in insulator 81c which in turn isattached to strobe support 92. Strobe 80c is filled with xenon gas andis capable of developing up to at least 200 watt-seconds or greater.Contacts 83c for strobe 83b extend through insulator 81c and are adaptedto be connected to a power source (not shown).

Also, suspended from main support 90 is lamp 69c, e.g. 10.8 volt, 42watt, halogen-cycle bulb such as a General Electric Co. Model EPT lampwith the reflector removed. Lamp 69c is mounted in socket 95 or the likewhich, in turn, is secured to insulator 96. Insulator 96 is mounted onlamp support 97 which is mounted for slidable adjustment on main support90 by means of slot 98 and screw 98a. Contacts 99 from lamp 69c extendthrough insulator 96 and are adapted to be connected to a power source.Lamp 69c extends through the center of strobe 80c when in position.

To assemble illumination means 30c on slit lamp 10 condensing lens, e.g.original condensing lens 36 (FIG. 1) is positioned on illuminationcolumn 28 and studs 37 are screwed therethrough. Holes 91 in mainsupport 90 are positioned onto the upper ends of studs 37. Lamp support97 is constructed so that when main support 90 is in place on studs 37,the filament 69d (FIG. 13) of lamp 67c is positioned at its appropriatefocal length from lens 36. Screw 98a can be loosened and lamp support 92is moved to center filament 69d of lamp 69c with relation to lens 36 toachieve maximum usable light for slit lamp 10. Screw 98a is thentightened to lock lamp 67c in place and a protective cap 100 (shown indotted lines in FIG. 13) is placed over means 30c.

Ocular Adaptor Housing 59

In a commercially available slit lamp of the type described above, eachof the oculars of the microscope 26 has an ocular housing 90 (FIG. 1)which forms a part of the ocular. In accordance with the presentinvention, ocular housing 90 from one of the oculars (shown as rightocular 26a in FIG. 1) is replaced with ocular adaptor housing 59 (FIGS.1, 4 and 5). Referring now to FIG. 5, the terminal end of ocular 26awith adaptor housing 59 in place is described.

Eyepiece adjustment ring 91 which is used for focusing ocular 26a isrotatably mounted on cylindrical support 92 and, as illustrated, iscomprised of stepped portion 93 having dioptric indicia thereon and anintegral knurled ring 94. Support 92 which extends beyond eyepieceadjustment 91 has a short flat portion 95 and a threaded outer end 96.Adaptor housing 59 has a contoured interior to conform with eyepieceadjustment ring 91 so that ring 91 will rotate freely within housing 59when said housing is in place. Adaptor housing 59 has two diametricallyopposed set screw 97 which engage flat portion 95 of support 92 toprevent rotation of housing 59.

Retainer ring 98 which originally held ocular housing 90 in place onsupport 92 is again threaded onto threaded end 96 to thereby secureadaptor housing 59 in position. Tube 99 of original eyepiece 100 isslidably positioned within support 92 and ocular 26a is now assembledfor use. Eyepiece 99 has lens 101 centered therein as well understood inthe art.

Adaptor housing 59 (FIG. 4) has a slot 102 through its upper surface toexpose the dioptric indicia on eyepiece adjustment ring 91 when housing59 is in place. Base mark 103 is provided at the back of slot 101 forreferencing the dioptic indicia and is in the same position as was thebase mark (not shown) on original ocular housing 90. A groove (notshown) is provded internally in adaptor housing 59 which cooperates withan index pin (not shown) on support 92 to insure accurate alignment ofbase mark 102 when ocular 26a is assembled. Adaptor housing 59 is alsorecessed on its sides to aid in positioning and removing eyepiece 99therein.

Clamp 54, Camera Support Arm 55, and Camera Sleeve 56

Clamp 54 (FIGS. 1 and 10) is illustrated as a C-shaped housing 110 whichis adapted to fit onto microscope support arm 25 and is held in a fixedposition thereon by means of screws 111 of the like. Since thedimensions of microscope support arm 25 may vary between variouscommercial models of slit lamp 10, clamp 54 may also be constructed intwo parts (not shown) and assembled by means of bolts or the like sothat one clamp will fit several models. Housing 110 has a projectingportion 112 extending from the side thereof which in turn has a verticalpassage 113 therein adapted to rotatably receive pivot pin 114 on camerasupport arm 55.

Pivot pin 114 is affixed and extends from C-shaped section 115 of camerasupport arm 55 which, in turn, is secured to bar 116 by means of screws117 or the like. Bar 116 is rotatably mounted to frame section 118 byrod 119 which can be tightened by knurled knob 120 to lock frame section118 in any desired position with relation to C-shaped section 115.Secured on the outer end of frame section 118 by means of screws 120 orthe like is vertical adjustment means 121, which is comprised ofcylinder 122 which, in turn, is threaded at its upper end 123.

Adjustment rod 124 passes through an opening in knurled cap 125, whichis threaded on top 123 of cylinder 122, and is slidably received withincylinder 122. An elastic gasket 126 surrounds rod 124 and is positionedbetween cap 125 and cylinder 122. Ring clamp 58 is pivotably mounted onthe top of adjustment rod 124 by means of pin 127 which can be tightenedby lever 128 to lock ring clamp 58 at a desired angle. Ring clamp 58 issplit with a threaded pin 129 therethrough which can be rotated byknurled knob 130 to thereby tighten or loosen ring clamp 58. The heightof ring clamp 58 can be adjusted by loosening cap 125, extending ortelescoping rod 124 within cylinder 122 to achieve the desired height,and then tightening cap 125 to compress elastic gasket into contact withrod 124 to thereby lock rod 124 at the desired height. Preferably, aspring 122a is positioned within cylinder 122 to lightly resist thetelescoping of rod 124 to aid in the adjustment operation.

Referring now to FIG. 5, camera sleeve 56 is threaded at one end 131which is adapted to be mated with a commercially-available T-adaptor 132which, in turn, is adapted to be affixed into the lens receiving openingof a commercially-available camera back 57, e.g. 35 millimeter camera.Sleeve 56 has a thin wall which is slotted with H-shaped slots 133 toprovide relative flexibility to sleeve 56. A circumferential groove 134is provided on sleeve 56 which is adapted to receive spring-bias balldetent 135 (FIG. 10) in ring clamp 58 to retain sleeve in positionwithin ring clamp 58. Light exclusion gasket 136, e.g. Teflon tape, isaffixed to the inside of sleeve 56 for a reason discussed below.

To further describe the assembly and operation of the present invention,reference is again made to FIG. 1. In the first embodiment, originallight source 30 and condenser lens 36 (FIG. 2) are removed from column28a of a commercially-available slit lamp 10 and are replaced withillumination means 30a. Electrical leads 75 and 84 from a power source(not shown) are connected to lamp 69 and strobe 80, respectively. Apreferred power source is of the type used for commercial photography,e.g. Model 202 Powerpack, Norman Enterprises, Los Angeles, Calif.,modified slightly to supply the proper voltage, e.g. 0-12 volts, forlamp 69. As understood by those skilled in the art, a synchronizationcord (not shown) is attached from the power source to camera 57 so thatstrobe 80 is activated when the shutter of camera 57 is tripped.Alternately, illumination means 30b or 30c can be assembled onto slitlamp 10 as previously described in place of illumiantion means 30a. Thesame type of power source will also be used with these embodiments.

Original ocular housing 90 is rmeoved from ocular 26a. and is replacedwith ocular adaptor housing 91 as described above. Clamp 54 is attachedto microscope support arm 25 and is designed to be left in position onslit lamp 10 once it is assembled thereon. Commercially-availableT-adpator 132 (FIG. 5) is affixed to the lens opening of camera back 57and sleeve 56 is screwed into T-adaptor 132. Sleeve 56 is then insertedinto ring clamp 58 on camera support arm 55 until ball detent 135engages groove 134 on sleeve 56. Pivot pin 114 is inserted in passage113 of clamp 54 to pivotably mount camera support arm 55 on slit lamp10.

By means of pivot pin 114, pivot rod 119, vertical adjustment means 121,and pivot pin 127, sleeve 56 within ring clamp 58 is brought intoalignment with and is moved onto ocular 26a. Gasket 136 engages thesmooth surface of ocular adaptor 59 to form a light-tight seal. Screw129 is tightened to secure sleeve 56 in positon on ocular 26a and tofurther effect the sealing relationship between housing 59 and sleeve56. Since eyepiece adjustment ring 91 is rotatable with respect toocular adaptor housing 59, the examiner can properly focus ocular 26a bylooking through the eyepiece of camera back 57. The shutter on cameraback 57 which also simultaneously operates strobe 80 is actuated and apicture is taken through ocular 26a. By photographing directly throughocular 26a which can easily be focused even with camera back 57 inplace, the original full range of magnification of slit lamp 10 isavailable for photography; this not being the case with known,commercially-available special slit lamp photography units. Further,when a slit image is to be photographed, the exit optical plate L(FIG. 1) is preferably removed and replaced with a rotatable plate (notshown) having a plurality of different lenses which compensate for thechange in focal distance of the slit image to the object beingphotographed caused by the optics of the camera back 57 and themagnification power of the ocular through which the photograph is taken.

Clamp 54 has a lock means 140 (FIG. 10) thereon which comprises aspring-biased detent 141 extending from the lower end thereof which isadapted to engage passage 142 in C-shaped section 115 of camera supportarm 55 to lock arm out of the way of the examiner when not in use.Detent 141 is released by lifting up on lever 143 which extends througha slot on lock means 140. Of course, if desired, entire camera supportarm 55 can easily be removed from slit lamp 10 by merely lifting up onarm 55 to remove pivot pin 114 from passage 113 in clamp 54.

What is claimed is:
 1. An assembly for converting acommercially-available slit lamp optical examination apparatus of thetype having a microscope and an illumination column into an opticalexamination apparatus capable of taking photographs of the eye throughat least one ocular of said microscope, said assembly comprising:asleeve adapted to be connected into the lens opening of a camera; aclamp adapted to be secured onto the support for the microscope of saidslit lamp apparatus; a camera support arm adapted to be pivotablyconnected to said clamp, said arm having a means thereon adapted toreceive the outer surface of said sleeve to thereby attach said camerato said camera support arm; an ocular adaptor housing adapted to replacethe original ocular housing of said ocular of said slit lamp apparatus,said ocular adaptor housing having a smooth outer surface adapted toreceive the inner surface of said sleeve to thereby exclude externallight from said sleeve; and an illumination means adapted to replace theoriginal light source on said illumination column of said slit lampapparatus, said illumination source comprising:a housing adapted to beconnected onto said illumination column of said slit lamp apparatus; asteady light means in said housing for supplying the illuminationnecessary for a routine examination; and a strobe light means in saidhousing for supplying the illumination necessary for taking photographsthrough said ocular.
 2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said housing ofillumination means comprises:an upper section having said steady lightmeans mounted therein; a lower section having said strobe means mountedtherein; and means for connecting said upper and lower sectionstogether.
 3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein said strobe meanscomprises:a ring-shaped strobe.
 4. The assembly of claim 3 wherein saidstrobe means comprises:a cylindrical-shaped strobe.
 5. The assembly ofclaim 1 wherein said housing comprises:a main support adapted to bepositioned on said illumination column; means for suspending said strobelight means from said main support; and means for suspending said steadylight means from said main support.
 6. The assembly of claim 5, whereinsaid strobe light means comprises:a ring-shaped strobe, said strobebeing suspended from said main support so that the diameter of saidring-shaped strobe will lie substantially along the longitudinal axis ofsaid illumination column when said illumination means is in an operableposition; and wherein said steady light means comprises:a bulb, saidbulb being suspended from said main support so that it is positionedwithin the center of said ring-shaped strobe when in an operableposition.
 7. The assembly of claim 6 wherein said means for suspendingsaid steady light means from said main support is adjustable todifferent positions on said main support.
 8. The assembly of claim 1wherein said camera support arm further comprises:a first section; meanson said first section for pivotably connecting said camera support armto said clamp; a second section pivotably connected to said first secondsection; releasable means for locking said first and second sections ina fixed position in relation to each other; and means on said secondsection for vertically adjusting said sleeve receiving means withrespect to said second section.
 9. The assembly of claim 8 wherein saidvertical adjustment means comprises:a hollow cylinder attached to theouter end of said second section; said cylinder externally threaded onits upper end; a cap threaded onto said threaded end of said cylinder,said cap having a central opening therethrough; a rod carrying saidsleeve receiving means on the upper end thereof, said rod passingthrough said opening in said cap and into said cyliner; and acompressible gasket surrounding said rod between said cap and saidthreaded end of said cylinder.
 10. The assembly of claim 9 wherein saidsleeve receiving means comprises:a ring clamp; and means for tighteningor loosening said ring clamp.
 11. In combination with a slit lampoptical examination apparatus of the type that has a microscope havingat least one ocular carried by a microscope support and an illuminationcolumn, the improvements comprising:a clamp affixed to said microscopesupport; a camera support arm pivotably mounted on said clamp; meanscarried by said camera support arm for attaching a camera to said atleast one ocular whereby said camera can take a photograph through saidocular; and an illumination means mounted on said illumination column,said illumination source comprising:a housing; a steady light means insaid housing for supplying illumination for routine examinations; and astrobe light source in said housing for supplying illumination forphotographing through said at least one ocular.
 12. The apparatus ofclaim 11 wherein said housing comprising:an upper section having saidsteady light means mounted therein.
 13. The assembly of claim 12 whereinsaid strobe means comprises:a ring-shaped strobe.
 14. The assembly ofclaim 12 wherein said strobe means comprises:a cylindrical-shapedstrobe.
 15. The assembly of claim 11 wherein said housing comprises:amain support adapted to be positioned on said illumination column; meansfor suspending said strobe light means from said main support; and meansfor suspending said steady light means from said main support.
 16. Theassembly of claim 15 wherein said strobe light means comprises:aring-shaped strobe, said strobe being suspended from said main supportso that the diameter of said ring-shaped strobe will lie substantiallyalong the longitudinal axis of said illumination column when saidillumination means is in an operable position; and wherein said steadylight means comprises:a bulb, said bulb being suspended from said mainsupport so that it is positioned within the center of said ring-shapedstrobe when in an operable position.
 17. The assembly of claim 16wherein said means for suspending said steady light means from said mainsupport is adjustable to different positions on said main support. 18.The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said camera support arm comprises:afirst section; means on said first section for pivotably connecting saidcamera support arm to said clamp; a second section pivotably connectedto said first section; releasable means for locking said first andsecond sections in a fixed position in relation to each other; and meanson said section for vertically adjusting said camera attaching means inrelation to said second section.
 19. The apparatus of claim 18 whereinsaid vertical adjusting means comprises:a hollow cylinder attached tothe outer end of said second section, said cylinder externally threadedon its upper end; a cap threaded onto said threaded end of saidcylinder, said cap having a central opening therethrough; a rod carryingsaid camera attaching means on the upper end thereof, said rod passingthrough said opening in said cap and into said cylinder; and acompressible gasket surrounding said rod between said cap and saidthreaded end of said cylinder.
 20. The apparatus of claim 19 whereinsaid camera attaching means comprises:a ring clamp mounted on the end ofsaid rod; and a sleeve removably received within said ring clamp, saidsleeve being adapted to be connected to one end to a lens receivingopening of a camera and having an inner surface adapted to receive saidat least one ocular when in an operable position.
 21. Apparatus formounting a camera onto a slit lamp optic examination unit of the typehaving a microscope with at least one ocular mounted on a support, saidapparatus comprising:a clamp adapted to be secured onto said microscopesupport; a first section; means on said first section for pivotablyconnecting said camera support arm to said clamp, a second sectionpivotably connected to said first section; releasable means for lockingsaid first and second sections in a fixed position in relation to eachother; camera attaching means carried by said second section; and meanson said section for vertically adjusting said camera attaching means inrelation to said second section.
 22. The apparatus of claim 21 whereinsaid vertical adjusting means comprises:a hollow cylinder attached tothe outer end of said second section, said cylinder externally threadedon its upper end; a cap threaded onto said threaded end of saidcylinder, said cap having a central opening therethrough; a rod carryingsaid camera attaching means on the upper end thereof, said rod passingthrough said opening in said cap and into said cylinder; and acompressible gasket surrounding said rod between said cap and saidthreaded end of said cylinder.
 23. The apparatus of claim 22 whereinsaid camera attaching means comprises:a ring clamp pivotably mounted onthe end of said rod; and a sleeve removably received within said ringclamp, said sleeve being adapted to be connected to one end to a lensreceiving opening of a camera and having an inner surface adapted toreceive said at least one ocular when in an operable position.